Rack



H. H. FANTE'.

Feb. 26, 1934.

RACK

Filed March 20, 1935 INVENTOR Fd/vfe TTORNEYS Patented Feb. 20,1934

PATENT: oFricE RACK Harry H. Fante, Detroit, Mich, assignor to LIA.Young Spring & Wire Corporation, Detroit,

Mich.

Application March 20, 1933. Serial No. 661,855

" 4 Claims.

. The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a rack of heavy wire or light rod of improvedconstruction for handling ice cream molds or containers and the like.

Second, to provide a rack of this character having improved meanswhereby aplurality thereof may be readily stacked in vertical alignment.

Third, to provide a rack of this character having no downwardly orupwardly projecting portions which would interfere with the sliding ofthe racks on one another as in stacking.

Fourth, to provide a rack of this character having improved means forsupporting conical molds or containers such as those used in handlingice cream molds or containers and the like.

Fifth, to provide a rack having the above desirable features andcharacteristics which is simple and economical in its parts, light inweight, yet strong and rugged and one which is eflicient and effectivein operation.

Objects relating to details and economies of my invention will appearfrom the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed outin the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention isillustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a rack embodying the features of myinvention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section on a linecorresponding to line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan.

Fig. 4 is a reduced horizontal section on a line corresponding to line4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a reduced fragmentary view in side elevation of a pair of theracks arranged in stacked relation.

Referring to the embodiment of my invention illustrated by the drawing,numeral 1 in general indicates the rack which is provided witha topframe 2, an intermediate frame 3 and a lower frame 4. The frames aresubstantially rectangular in shape and arranged in spaced relation toeach other. The frames are held in assembled relation by means of thespaced vertical uprights 5 which are welded to the inner sides of theframes. No uprights are provided near the corners of the frames.

Spaced pairs .6 and 7 of longitudinal and transverse members arearranged on the intermediate frame 3 to form spaced longitudinal andtransverse rows of square openings 8, the

members 6 and 7 being welded at their ends to the intermediate frame.The pairs of longitudinal and transverse members 6 and 7 are spacedin'this manner to provide room for the upper portions of the conical icecream molds or containers 9 which are disposed in the openings 8 indiagonal rows, every other opening in the transverse and longitudinalrods being used. The frame 3 is provided with a central reinforcing rod20.

Spaced lower transverse members 10 are arranged on the lower frame 4 andwelded at their ends thereto, there being a lower transverse member 10below and offset from the center of each transverse row of openings 8.The lower transverse members 10 are reinforced by means of spacedlongitudinal members 11 which are welded thereto. The transverse lowermembers 10 are adapted to support the molds. or containers 9 insubstantially normal position relative to the, openings 8 when the rackis inclined from the horizontal as in stacking or handling the racks.

Substantially U-shaped supporting members 12 are arranged with theiruprights 13 spaced from the corners of the frame and welded to theintermediate and lower frames 3 and 4. The diagonal corner pieces 14 aredisposed in a horizontal plane spaced from the bottom of the supportingmembers 12 and are welded to the corner uprights 13. The corner piecesprovide supports engageable with the corners of the top frame of asimilar rack on which the rack is stacked, the supporting members of theupper rack receiving and overlapping the top frame of the lower rack asillustrated by Fig. 5.

With the parts thus arranged, the racks may be readily stacked bysliding them into position on the supporting surface or on the nextlower rack, the arrangement of parts being such that all of theprojecting members which would interfere with such sliding movement areeliminated. The rack is light in weight, yet strong and rugged andprovides for ample circulation of the refrigerating medium around thecontainers or molds even when a plurality of the racks are arranged instacked relation. While the above described embodiment'of my inventionis specifically designed for use in handling ice cream molds orcontainers, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the artthat the rack is capable of use in other relations.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in an embodiment whichI have found very practical. I have not attempted to illustrate ordescribe other embodiments or adaptations, as it'is believed thisdisclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt myimprovementsas may be desired;

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A rack comprising in combination top, intermediate and lower frames,uprights secured to said frames and connecting the same in assemb'ledrelation, longitudinal and transverse members secured at their endstosaid intermediate frame and forming spaced longitudinal and transverserows of openings, spacedlower transverse members secured at their endsto said lower frame, there being a lower transverse member below andoffset from the center of each transverse row of openings, substantiallyU-shaped supporting members having the uprights thereof spaced from thecorners of the frames and secured to said intermediate and lower framesand diagonal corner pieces .arranged in a plane spaced from the bottomof said supporting members and secured to'the corner uprights thereofwhereby to provide supports engageable with the corners of the top frameof a similar rack on which the rack is stacked, the supporting membersof the upper rack overlapping the top frame of the lower rack.

2.'A rack comprising in combination top, intermediate and lowerframes,'uprights secured to said frames and connecting the same inassembled relation, longitudinal and transverse members secured at theirends to said intermediate frame and forming spaced longitudinal andtransverse rows of openings, substantially U- shaped supporting membershaving the uprights thereof spaced from the corners of the frames andsecured to said intermediate and lower frames, and diagonal cornerpieces arranged'in a plane spaced from the bottom of said supportingmembers and secured to the corner uprights thereof whereby to providesupports engageable with the ,corners of the top frame of a similarrackon which the rack is stacked, the supporting members of the upper rackoverlapping the top frame of the lower rack.

3. A wire rack comprising in combination top, intermediate and lowerframes, means connecting the same in assembled relation, spaced pairs oflongitudinal and transverse members welded at their ends to saidintermediate frame and forming spaced longitudinal and transverse rowsof square openings, spaced lower transverse members welded at their endsto said lower frame, there being a lower transverse member below andoffset from the center of each transverse row of openings, substantiallyU-shaped supporting members having the uprights thereof spaced from thecorners of the frames and welded to said intermediate and lower frames,and diagonal corner pieces arranged in a plane spaced from the bottom ofsaid supporting members and welded to the corner uprights thereofwhereby to provide supports engageable with the corners of the top frameof a similar rack on which the rack is stacked, the supporting membersof the upper rack receiving the top frame of the lower rack.

4. A wire rack comprising in combination top, intermediate and lowerframes, means connecting the same in assembled relation, substantiallyU-shaped supporting members having the uprights thereof spaced from thecorners of the frames and welded to said intermediate and lower frames,and diagonal corner pieces arranged in a plane spaced from the bottom ofsaid supporting members and welded to the corner uprights thereofwhereby to provide supports engageable with the corners of the top frameof a similar rack on which the rack is stacked.

HARRY H. FANTE.

